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A reminder now, that as we told you yesterday, live streaming video of J.K. Rowling giving her commencement speech at Harvard University will be available via this link. The stream is now live with J. K. Rowling giving her commencement address at Harvard University. Readers can watch it live here.. Jo is speaking on two topics, failure (and how later you can achieve success) and the power of imagination. JKR also referenced her work with Amnesty International after graduating. The video and text will then be reposted immediately afterward here on the Harvard Magazine website.The first photos of Jo receiving her honorary degree are starting to appear online via Getty Images and the AP.

While TLC has a crew in attendance, if you are also lucky enough to be at the event today, please send in your reports and photos which we will be happy to post as well.

150 Responses to Streaming Video of J.K. Rowling Speaking at Harvard Commencement Now Live

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Oh my goodness, I can’t wait!*

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Can’t wait!

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She got her honorary degree in the morning commencements. So unless your leaky team was there then i’m afraid you’ve missed it.
I’ve been watching all of today’s ceremony on the web (I have nothing better to do).

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Just to clarify. She got her honorary degree then, but she still has to give the speech.

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Where on the web can you watch Jo’s speech…the link in the update does not work for me.
Lambade – where have you been watching this?

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I want to watch this….but that link doesn’t work for me at work!

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woo hoo I’m watching right now, so excited, bring on Jo. This is like Christmas for me!!

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FYI:
You need RealPlayer installed for the link to work, and you need to be able to stream video.
Your work may not have real player, or may have stopped the streaming of videos.

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So who can read her lips???

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Bless her, she looks kinda nervous, well we all know she’s not that fond of public speaking

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Darn work computer! I’ll just have to watch it when I get home. Hope y’all are having fun!

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So 2 minutes about till Jo talks

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So 2 minutes about till Jo talks?

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It’s about to begin! (wewt ;)

Thanks Leaky folks! <3

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She looks like she wants to get going/get it over with…

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what is with this song???

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Sounds like the alma mater hymn… lol at the girl in the black hoodie (I’m wearing mine!) yawwwwnnn…. :)

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Can you please tell me what program you use? It doesn’t work for me.

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Poor, poor stream quality on the video. Shame, but not surprising.

Haha, the announcers were wondering why there were so many people there so early.
Oh, I dunno, maybe cuz friggin JO ROWLING is there?
iono. Maybe. e_e

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Me

I’m streaming mine with Real Player

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as I’ve already said
You have to use realplayer

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I’m using media player classic which is a spinoff of real player and the quality is fine.

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While the elder alumni are being honored, I just wanted to say I like how Jo has matured in her public speaking… Today she looks expectantly nervous and not petrified like at her first time at the Toronto Skydome …

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I thought Jo was supposed to be at the begining?

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You know everytime he says “May I present to you…” I’m like yesss here we go… but no, not yet….

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mine didnt work either
:(

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I just joined the stream, is it too late to see Jo? ;(

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Nope, not too late.

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Good, because I feel rather wierd watching all these old people talk..
:p

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Think of it as “why we are here”... ;)

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Typical commencement: started 10 minutes late, no sign of Jo Rowling at the dais. Meanwhile yadda…yadda…yadda…yadda…yadda…

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First mention of JO!!!!!!!!!!!! But still no indication of when the speech will be

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Hehe ;D

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Phoenix1946: So true. Every commencement I’ve ever been to (or watched in this case) has always started late and/or ran over the allotted time!

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Oh she’s on the dais all right, second left from the podium. Just wish it was her at the poduim already.

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mine just says its loading
but i see nothing

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Hmmm…I’m only getting like a frame per minute. I knew Real Player was bad, but I didn’t know it was THAT bad…

Or maybe it’s just my computer. >.>

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Well, I have audio but not video. That works for me. Still no Jo yet.

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@ David
I’m sorry to say that I think it’s your computer :p I am quite amazed by the streaming quality, there’s no latency and a quite sharp image.
I never liked RealPlayer, i’m starting to feel better for the software now though^^

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... another song… we’re gonna be waitin ages people

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This is getting really boring

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We have a “Muggle” reference…

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I think it’s about to start….

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Finally, let’s get this show on the road. When the band came up I was like, here goes another hour :P

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Jo’s supposed to be on after Drew Faust isn’t she?

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I can’t watch. It streams for a few seconds and then pauses for several seconds, over and over again. I’m going to have to watch it later when they post the recording. Too bad. I’m jealous of you guys that get to watch it live.

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Darn right you’re the warmup act!!! XD

I love this President now. SWEET!

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Here we go!

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Finally, let’s get this show on the road. When the band came up I was like, here goes another hour :P

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I used divX and it was really choppy. Switched over to RealPlayer and its smooth as television.

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So close… yet so far… patience… we’re close now!

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rachel: dont jinx it now… it still could be another hour these speeches can go on for ever

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Drew Faust is officially on my hug list!!

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She looks so humble…just thought I would hear the most famous “few words”...nitwit blubber oddment tweak…

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I didn’t miss her!! Yayyy! Gosh she looks so beautiful =)

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Watching this is very interesting. Harvardia? =P Ooh it’s nearly Jo’s turn. The voiceover guy at the start seemed puzzled by the large numbers in attendance. I wonder why that might be.

I guess I’ll rewatch her when its uploaded later. For now I will just listen I guess… sigh

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Watching this is very interesting. Harvardia? =P Ooh it’s nearly Jo’s turn. The voiceover guy at the start seemed puzzled by the large numbers in attendance. I wonder why that might be.

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Your right redreh, she’s talkin so much there about the funding of Harvard, leading universities in science, they could easily create a working sorting hat with some of that cash

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yeah, i’m streaming it with real player. windows media will not work i don’t believe. but yep, watching right now and the quality is pretty good. idk what that guy on the first page was talking about.

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@ Kiwi Mc.
She’s simply talking too much! ;p

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The beginning was fun what with all the HP references, but now I’m starting to understand the drudgery of Prof. Binns better…

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LoL Kiwi. I wonder if people have been criticism their endowment, which is why she is bringing it up?

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This woman got me excited with the HP references. She just won’t stop talking.

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Haha whyy is she going on about this? Clearly no one cares!

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.. Indeed
But she said that Jo would be the one speaking after her.
So it’s coming soon!
She even said
”.. Finally we must.. blah blah”

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I just came back to the feed and I am back to one frame about every 8 seconds. The first time I got in, it ran that way for 50 minutes and then it went to realtime and the quality was good.

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Agree with Sue. But if she had kept the HP references up through out this entire speech and kept the same boring content she would deserve a leaky award :)

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She really fooled us with all of her Harry Potter talk before, didn’t she. Now she’s talking about funding and all of that. I bet all the people there are just wishing they’d get on with it. Everytime they said “I would like to introduce” they got me.

I agree, Harvard needs a Sorting Hat!

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Hm, past her good humor and unabashed admiration for Jo, that Drew Faust is sharp… She has to bring up the endowment to justify it and prove that they need more.

4:00 not looking so far-fetched now though…

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I just came back to the feed and I am back to one frame about every 8 seconds. The first time I got in, it ran that way for 50 minutes and then it went to real time and the quality was good.

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Agree with Sue. But if she had kept the HP references up through out this entire speech and kept the same boring content she would deserve a leaky award :)

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Yay, she’s done!

Bring on Jo!

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She’s done, she’s done!
cheer

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SONGS!!! Why the songs?!

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SHES DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Starting soon?? Please?????! lol.

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Yeah, Ben, she said finally. But she still hasn’t stopped! How long has she been talking. It must be over 20 minutes now. She’s finished!!!!!!!!!!

He’s introducing her now, but man.. She’s done and achieved so much I guess this will take another hour..

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Here we go!

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GAY WIZARD! LOL

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This woman is amazing.

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this streaming video sucks… dont they know akamami servers are horrible? it keeps having to stop, and recommunicate every 2 seconds, so its 2 seconds video, 6 secounds of reconnecting, for 2 more seconds.

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NotheHBP, are you using RealPlayer? Its the only one that streams smoothly, I think

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Who but Jo could refer to cartoon anvil during a commencement speech? :)

... and for an address that begins speaking about failure, it ends up being full of win!

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Ack…I hope someone records and hosts it later…cuz this is just infuriating…play…re-initialize….play….re-initialize…wander off

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This was SUCH an inspiring speech. She’s an incredible role model.

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I cant get it!! I dont have realplayer, i have quicktime, i cant get it to work!!

HELP ME SOMEONE!! Please!!!!!!

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Wow. That was… amazing.

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Well, in twelve minutes, I heard the name “Harry Potter” exactly once. I feel sorry for those who took the time and trouble to get their kids to the commencement to see and hear the author of “Harry Potter”. The kids will not have understood a word of it and be very disappointed or understood a little of it and are scared stiff.

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wow, that was so wonderful. so profound. wow. i hope everyone can hear that or read that.

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That was awesome.

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I don’t care who does my graduation next year, THAT is one I’m going to carry with me

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Hah, I love how the presenter lapsed into his New England accent :)

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wow, that was so wonderful. so profound. wow. i hope everyone can hear that or read that.

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If you cant watch it dont worry, it will be posted as a video after the ceremony

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My server caught up in time to see it in fantastic speed…

My God, I love Jo Rowling. Seriously.

That speech was fantastic; moving, funny, inspiring. I doubt a single one of those graduates will forget it. I know I won’t.

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Phoenix1946, it should have been obvious to those people who brought their children for the sole purpose of hearing secrets of Harry Potter that they would be disappoitned. Jo gave a wonderful, invigorating, inspiring speech about the goodness of helping others, which is the message she writes about in her books. Those children, hopefully, have learned something more than they ever have, by hearing what she believes in the way of morals, imagination, and success.

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I’d laugh at any parent who was foolish enough to assume that Jo was going to go on about Harry Potter at a University commencement…(Harvard no less!)
What did you expect? Her talking on and on about her books? Hardly inspiring.

I’m disappointed that Harvard had such rubbish streaming video networks…perhaps they have never had a massive audience converge on their networks before and were unprepared.

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Awesome! I just used up two tissues. That is one speech that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

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What a brilliant, funny and moving speech. I know public speaking isn’t one of her favourite things to do, but she is exceptionally good at it.

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Awesome! I just used up two tissues. That is one speech that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

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Phoenix, she wasn’t there as the author of Harry Potter, she was there as Jo Rowling, talking about graduating, so serves anyone right who thought she was going to talk about HP!

I can’t wipe the grin from my face; she kept talking about her graduation- I was in the room she graduated in this morning doing an exam!

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I’d laugh at any parent who was foolish enough to assume that Jo was going to go on about Harry Potter at a University commencement…(Harvard no less!)
What did you expect? Her talking on and on about her books? Hardly inspiring.

I’m disappointed that Harvard had such rubbish streaming video networks…perhaps they have never had a massive audience converge on their networks before and were unprepared.

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Wow, that was honestly the best speech I have ever heard.

I love her.

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I’d laugh at any parent who was foolish enough to assume that Jo was going to go on about Harry Potter at a University commencement…(Harvard no less!)
What did you expect? Her talking on and on about her books? Hardly inspiring.

I’m disappointed that Harvard had such rubbish streaming video networks…perhaps they have never had a massive audience converge on their networks before and were unprepared.

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Oh yeah, did you hear that applause? How long it was?

That’s not just people applauding the speech, its people applauding her life, her dedication, her deserved happiness, and, of course, Harry Potter.

Oh… its days like this that makes my heart warm, as I reflect back on that day when I was 11, picking up the newly released Sorceror’s Stone, and falling in love.

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I was not able to watch at all :( My work comp does not have Real Player, but I am dying to watch it!!

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I’d laugh at any parent who was foolish enough to assume that Jo was going to go on about Harry Potter at a University commencement…(Harvard no less!)
What did you expect? Her talking on and on about her books? Hardly inspiring.

I’m disappointed that Harvard had such rubbish streaming video networks…perhaps they have never had a massive audience converge on their networks before and were unprepared.

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That was beautiful. Two words keep reappearing in my head, “Gay wizard”. I love Jo.

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Such an inspiring speech !
What an amazing woman !
She surprises me everytime.

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Oh yeah, did you hear that applause? How long it was?

That’s not just people applauding the speech, its people applauding her life, her dedication, her deserved happiness, and, of course, Harry Potter.

Oh… its days like this that makes my heart warm, as I reflect back on that day when I was 11, picking up the newly released Sorceror’s Stone, and falling in love.

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oh yes, that applause lasted for a good minute it not more. wow.

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Such an inspiring speech !
What an amazing woman !
She surprises me everytime.

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I just finished watching it – Jo’s speech was beautiful and inspiring. Really given me a lot to think about. Love you Jo!

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Such an inspiring speech !
What an amazing woman !
She surprises me everytime.

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I just finished watching it – Jo’s speech was beautiful and inspiring. Really given me a lot to think about. Love you Jo!

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Such an inspiring speech !
What an amazing woman !
She surprises me everytime.

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Oh yeah, did you hear that applause? How long it was?

That’s not just people applauding the speech, its people applauding her life, her dedication, her deserved happiness, and, of course, Harry Potter.

Oh… its days like this that makes my heart warm, as I reflect back on that day when I was 11, picking up the newly released Sorceror’s Stone, and falling in love.

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What a wonderful woman. I’m so proud of being one of her many admirers. Her speech was amazing, I’m also graduating in a few weeks but we don’t have any ceremony in France for graduation, but I’ll sure be hearing her voice in my head when I go see the results of the finals.
It’s nice to see her being given something when she’s given us so much already.

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She was absolutely brilliant! And lovely as always. So funny in the beginning saying how nervous she was, and losing weight because of the anticipation of having to give the speech. So true for all people who give speeches, even if they are famous and have done it for years. I cried through it all too. Everyone loved her and what she said. So glad I got off from work early today and was able to see and tape it. Every time we see her it’s like another Harry event. So great! I miss seeing her. We love you Jo! You did great! XO :)

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couldnÂ´t watch it :(

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She was absolutely brilliant! And lovely as always. So funny in the beginning saying how nervous she was, and losing weight because of the anticipation of having to give the speech. So true for all people who give speeches, even if they are famous and have done it for years. I cried through it all too. Everyone loved her and what she said. So glad I got off from work early today and was able to see and tape it. Every time we see her it’s like another Harry event. So great! I miss seeing her. We love you Jo! You did great! XO :)

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I didn’t mean to put that many message on here. Leaky is having problems with their post button. OH well, Jo deserves all that anyway:)

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Can’t post your comment “just once”, can ya?

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I thought it was absolutely brilliant too. She gave such a mature, inspiring speech and it was sooo moving, so I nearly was in tears in front of the computer. “It’s our choices…” all over again! Combined with her special type of humour, which I dearly love and applauded for (again in front of the computer). And I have never been more proud to be an active member of Amnesty until this evening. A speech to remember; I would love to read it all over again. Have to go to bed though, it’s 22:30 where I live…

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just read the transcript and cried.
wonder what the seed of evil is and what we have to tolerate.
where does it all start? with jokes about gay wizards?
now, I hope you understand what I mean. At our school it was considered great fun among the boys to tell jokes about underfed aethopians

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Exceptionally written speech. I don’t know if this is what ended up coming out, but I liked it.

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Jo’s speech was so beautiful and inspiring, it really gave me a lot to think about. Thanks Jo!

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The streaming was clear and sharp with no lag. If you had problems that was not Harvard’s fault. It could be your internet connection, your computer, the viewer you were using or a lot of other things. Take Jo’s speech to heart and accept responsibility.

Excellent speech. And if I had been taken to see it as a child I would have understood enough of it. And if that speech was terrifying then then books are probably too scary for those people too.

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WOW, that was an amazing speech!!! it made me laugh and cry..
I love her! :)

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Wonderful, simply wonderful stuff! Loved the HP references she managed to squeeze into that jam-packed speech! It was so great to hear about some of Jo’s profound experiences at Amnesty; loved her speech topics and her extraordinary humility is so endearing and so inspirational. Jo, you piqued our empathy and your words rung true in all of our hearts.

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23 minutes of absolute wonder. For anyone who went or took their children to hear about Harry Potter…I’m sorry. This was a Commencement Speech. It highly moving, well written and insightful. As some have said, here.
I wish MY commencement speech had been this eloquent. It is not the ability to talk about the GNP or Gas Prices. It was not about the ability to take what you’ve learned, and apply it to your daily life and you will be “a huge success”. It was about being human. About having human failings, that everyone has. I believe, somewhere in one of the books, there is a comment made. I will have to paraphrase, as I am not really good at “Potteretention” [as some, here, are]
“It is not our failures or success that define us. It is what we chose to do with them.” Also, somwhere, it says “Soon, we must make the choice between what is right and what is easy.”
Jo chose the “path less traveled”...and what she learned, she has just passed on to a new generation of human beings…..
Yes. She added one or two HP references [and I am sure many will only remember “The Gay Wizard Joke”] I hope not, though. There were moments of pure fun. Pure heartbreak, and success through adversity.
Amazing. Just amazing! JKR again shows what a good person [and generous person} she is.That she worked, for Amnesty International, for whatever length of time, was not the point of that bit. It was the lessons learned, from that experience, that helped her to carry on. Helping those, less fortunate, is a success. Having been one of the many in less fortunate circumstances: a single mother and a child. Little, if any, assistance. Having a degree in Philosophy does not prepare you for life’s “failures”. It can, however, as Jo Pointed out [very neatly, I might add] help you to get through that situation, and turn it around. Sittlng in a coffe shop, writing on napkins. Beween work, durring breaks, stealing a moment for imgaination. These things get you through the “rough patches”...but not if you wallow in your “sad state”. And, believe me, she doesn’t, by the way! Trudge on. Soldier on…what ever you chose to say…there is always someone less fortunate, who may need YOUR help.
JKR is an inspiring and wonderous person….I congratulate her, on a speech that will not soon be forgotten…by Graduates and familys, fortunate enough to have witnessed it, but by the Alumni, Faculty and scores of HP fans who watched or listened to that speech. May we ALL take a page from Ms Rowing’s speech….and take from it glorious truth and inspired wisdom!
[By the way, at 141 posts {last I looked} I found only 3 Trolls and 1 Deatheater…I hope I was not one…long winded, maybe..but not a Troll!]

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@ everyone who said Harvard needs a Sorting Hat: so true.

But what we have is pretty good. For starters, they screened Sorcerer’s Stone in the Great Hall ( http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~memhall/annenberg.html ) the night before we were sorted into our Houses. People are sorted not individually but in groups of up to 8 friends chosen during freshman spring called a blocking group, so you and your group stay up all night if possible and wait for the assignment letters that are hand-delivered by students in your future House early the next morning. Mather House (appropriately enough, the one with red and gold colors and a lion mascot) is traditionally the most rambunctious about the delivery of letters, storming into Harvard Yard dressed in house colors and singing.